Dear Mamas

Dear Mamas,

Please exist in photos.

There you are with your phone, capturing every last detail of your children. From the moment they are earthside, to their first foods, first steps, first day at school, first missing tooth, recording each milestone.

 I see you; I see how proud you are of your children and how important it is for you to capture these memories.

But what about you?

What about when your children are older and they look back and none of the pictures include you?

I am guilty of this. For my newborn daughter’s session, I insisted I did not want to be in any photos. My hair was awful, I was so tired, I was unhappy with my body. Any excuse really. Now I look back and it is truly a huge regret to not have this moment photographed. The way I looked lovingly at her and nothing else in the world existed. That connection of pure love and happiness of mother and newborn. A moment too fleeting to ever get back.

Why do mothers always put themselves last?

Why do we scrutinise every last physical detail?

For all of this, it does not matter.

Because to your children you are perfect.

You are a nose-blowing, lunch-making, tickle-fighting superhero.

Your children don’t care if you haven’t cleaned the kitchen or if you wear the same clothes two days in a row. 

All they want is you.

And when they are grown up what they will treasure more than anything is photographs that include you.

I want you to know how valuable you are. To your family and children. You should be remembered. You should be photographed. Not a filtered selfie. A real photograph that is the legacy of your existence and how much you matter. Don’t leave it until it is too late. 

Love, Megan.

PS -  My top tips for getting in photos:

1. Just ask someone to grab a snap for you! Remind your other half to take photos of you with your kids from time to time. Ask a stranger if you’re out and about.

2. Self portraits. Set up a phone-self-portrait session. Does not need to be perfect or fancy. Set up your phone using the back camera, use the timer, and pop it on burst mode. 

3. Hire a professional. Invest in your memories.

Megan Willis is an award winning professional photographer specialising in newborn, maternity and family photography. Inspired by your brand new little person, and the love you have for them, she'll capture their first days; a moment in time which passes too soon. www.meganwillisphotography.com.au.